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ISSN 0212-1611 CODEN NUHOEQ
S.V.R. 318

Revisin

Antitumor effect of oleic acid; mechanisms of action. A review

C. Carrillo, M. del M. Cavia and S. R. Alonso-Torre
rea de Nutricin y Bromatologa. Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad de Burgos. Burgos. Spain.

Abstract
Introduction: The beneficial effects of oleic acid in
cancer processes can no longer be doubted, but little is
known about the mechanisms of action behind this
phenomenon.
Aim: The aim of the present review is to clarify
whether oleic acid has an effect on important mechanisms
related to the carcinogenic processes.
Methods: We searched electronic databases and bibliographies of selected articles were inspected for further
reference. We focused our research on two cellular transformations characterizing cancer development: proliferation and cell death or apoptosis.
Results: Numerous studies have reported an inhibition
in cell proliferation induced by oleic acid in different
tumor cell lines. Herein, oleic acid could suppress the
over-expression of HER2 (erbB-2), a well-characterized
oncogene which plays a key role in the etiology, invasive
progression and metastasis in several human cancers. In
addition, oleic acid could play a role in intracellular
calcium signaling pathways linked to the proliferation
event. Regarding cell death, oleic acid has been shown to
induce apoptosis in carcinoma cells. The mechanisms
behind the apoptotic event induced by oleic acid could be
related to an increase in intracellular ROS production or
caspase 3 activity. Several unsaturated fatty acids have
been reported to induce apoptosis through a release of
calcium from intracellular stores. However, evidence
regarding such a role in oleic acid is lacking.
Conclusions: Oleic acid plays a role in the activation of
different intracellular pathways involved in carcinoma
cell development. Such a role could be the root of its antitumoral effects reported in clinical studies.

(Nutr Hosp. 2012;27:1860-1865)

DOI:10.3305/nh.2012.27.6.6010
Key words: Oleic acid. Apoptosis. Proliferation. Intracellular signaling.

Correspondence: Sara R. Alonso-Torre.

rea de Nutricin y Bromatologa.
Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad de Burgos.
Pl. Misael Bauelos s/n.
09001 Burgos. Spain.
E-mail: salonso@ubu.es
Recibido: 17-VI-2012.
Aceptado: 7-VIII-2012.

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EFECTO ANTITUMORAL DEL CIDO OLEICO;

MECANISMOS DE ACCIN; REVISIN
CIENTFICA
Resumen
Introduccin: Los estudios epidemiolgicos atribuyen
un papel protector al cido oleico frente a determinados
tipos de cncer. Sin embargo, el conocimiento relativo al
mecanismo por el cual tal cido graso ejerce sus efectos es
escaso.
Objetivo: La presente revisin bibliogrfica tiene como
objetivo recopilar aquellos trabajos que centran su atencin en los mecanismos intracelulares que podran explicar los efectos clnicos atribuidos al cido oleico.
Mtodos: Se ha realizado una bsqueda bibliogrfica a
travs de bases de datos electrnicas y las referencias de
los artculos de inters han sido utilizadas como fuente de
bsquedas ms avanzadas. Nuestra revisin se ha centrado en la descripcin de dos de las transformaciones
celulares que caracterizan el desarrollo de cncer: proliferacin y muerte celular.
Resultados: Numerosos estudios atribuyen un papel
inhibidor de la proliferacin de clulas tumorales al cido
oleico. Entre los mecanismos de accin, se encuentran su
capacidad para suprimir la expresin de HER2 (erbB-2),
un oncogn bien conocido por su implicacin en la etiologa, progresin y metstasis de distintos tipos de cncer.
Adems, el cido oleico podra jugar un papel en la activacin de la sealizacin de calcio intracelular, rutas
igualmente ligadas a la proliferacin celular. En cuanto a
su papel en los fenmenos de muerte celular, el cido
oleico puede inducir apoptosis en clulas tumorales describindose como mecanismos implicados la produccin
de intracelular de especies reactivas o la activacin de la
actividad caspasa 3. Aunque muchos estudios relacionan
la apoptosis inducida por los cidos grasos insaturados
con la liberacin de calcio de los depsitos intracelulares,
faltan estudios que aclaren el papel del cido oleico a este
respecto.
Conclusin: El cido oleico juega un papel en la activacin de diferentes rutas intracelulares implicadas en
el desarrollo de clulas tumorales. Estos mecanismos
podran ser la base de los efectos protectores que le atribuyen los estudios clnicos.

(Nutr Hosp. 2012;27:1860-1865)

DOI:10.3305/nh.2012.27.6.6010
Palabras clave: cido oleico. Apoptosis. Proliferacin
celular. Sealizacin celular.

10. ANTITUMOR:01. Interaccin 29/11/12 14:32 Pgina 1861

Materials and methods

Abbreviations

Search strategy

OA: Oleic acid.

PUFA: Polyunsaturated fatty acids.
MUFA: Monounsaturated fatty acids.
SOC: Store-operated channels.
SOCE: Store-operated Ca2+ entry.
ROS: Reactive oxygen species.
DHA: Docosahexaenoic acid.
Introduction
General evidence of the antitumor effect of oleic acid
Epidemiological studies have suggested a positive
association between the total fat intake and the risk of
cancer, particularly breast, colorectal and prostate
cancers.1 Carcinogenesis models have also provided
evidence for a lipid specific action beyond their caloric
supply, thus suggesting that the type of fat and its
unique composition are of greater importance than
overall fat intake.2-7
Whereas a high intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty
acids (PUFA) has tumor-enhancing effects, n-3 PUFA
have inhibitory effects. However, there are few experimental studies addressing the role of monounsaturated
fatty acids (MUFA) of the n-9 family, such as oleic
acid (OA), on cancer, if compared to the investigations
about the role of other dietary lipids.
OA has attracted much attention, especially in the
last few years, as the Mediterranean diet, characterized by a high olive oil (rich in OA) consumption, has
been traditionally linked to a protective effect against
cancer.8 A wide range of studies have been conducted
into breast cancer, where a potential protective effect
of olive oil and OA has been described. 9-11 In addition, epidemiological studies suggest that olive oil
may have a protective effect on colorectal cancer
development.12-14 In this sense, some animal studies
have also shown that dietary olive oil prevented the
development of colon carcinomas in rats, corroborating that olive oil may have chemopreventive properties against colon carcinogenesis.15-17
Finally, a novel approach to chemotherapy has the
potential to yield novel dietary-drug combinations that
can provide additive or even synergistic protection
against the progression of cancer and it is especially
relevant when the etiology of disease development has
varied mechanistic routes. With regard to this novel
approach, OA has been reported to act synergistically
with cytotoxic drugs, thus enhancing their antitumor
effect.17-19
Thus, both epidemiological and animal studies have
reported a protective role of oleic acid in several
cancers. However, the mechanisms behind the antitumor effect of such a fatty acid are not well understood. The aim of the present review is to clarify where
the knowledge concerning this topic is.

Antitumor effect of oleic acid;

mechanisms of action. A review

We consulted studies published in electronic databases such as Pubmed or Medline. The bibliographies
of selected articles were inspected for any further reference.
Firstly, we studied the title and abstract of all kind of
papers (regular or review papers) with a potential
interest to understand the role of oleic acid in cancer
events. We mostly focused on those related to the
mechanisms of action of such a fatty acid at the cellular
level. Thus, the main key words used in the search
were: oleic acid, apoptosis, proliferation, carcinoma cells, intracellular signaling. Then, the text of
the main trials that met the criteria previously
mentioned was fully examined to extract the specific
data included in the review.
Results and discussion
Cancer development is characterized by specific
cellular transformations involving changes in proliferation rates, inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes and
inhibition of apoptosis. Thus, we will describe the
ability of oleic acid to induce apoptosis and/or inhibit
cell proliferation in cancer cell lines.
Oleic acid-proliferation
It has been recently shown that OA promoted the
growth of non-malignant cells but, in fact, it had the
opposite effect, in malignant cells.20 Several researchers
have also demonstrated that both oleic and -linolenic
acid showed a proliferation inhibition effect on
prostate carcinoma cells.21,22 According to these
results, numerous studies have also reported an inhibition in cell proliferation induced by OA in different
tumor cell lines.23,24 However, other inconsistent
results have been also obtained, including nonpromoting, weak-promoting, and even promoting
effects on tumor growth.25-29 Such contradictory observations may be in part the result of the different
methods used in the determinations.
On the basis that OA and other fatty acids are good
cellular fuels that can be degraded through -oxidation
when imported into the mitochondria, some researchers
have designed a new synthetic OA analog, minerval
with a modification that blocks the biological activity
of fatty acids. Thus, enzymes involved in those
processes may not recognize this modified fatty acid,
so that its utilization as a source of energy would be
decreased, and subsequently, its availability to modify
cell signaling increased. Supporting the above-mention
suggestion, they showed a markedly increase of the
antiproliferative activity of minerval with respect to

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Table I
Key studies evaluating the antitumor effect of OA
Reference

Key findings

General evidences of the protective effect of oleic acid and olive oil
Chajes V et al.,9 Escrich E et al.,10 Martn-Moreno JM et al.11
Macquart-Moulin et al.,12 Stoneham M et al.,13 Bautista D et al.14
Bartoli R et al.,15 Reddy BS and Maeura Y,16 Schwartz B et al.17

OA has a protective effect in breast cancer

Olive oil has a protective effect on colorrectal cancer development
Olive oil prevents the development of colon carcinomas in rats

Mechanisms involved: OA-proliferation

Menndez JA and Lupu R,36 Menndez JA et al.,37 Menndez JA et al.,38 Nelson R39
Gamberucci A et al.51
Carrillo C et al.52

OA promoted the growth of non-malignant cells but has the opposite

effect in malignant cells
OA showed an inhibitory proliferation effect in different carcinoma cells
OA has a non-promoting, weak-promoting, and even promoting effect
on tumor growth
Minerval inhibits the growth of cancers in both animal models and
cultured cells
OA can suppress the over-expression of HER2 (erbB-2)
OA can inhibit SOCE in Ehrlich tumor cells
OA can inhibit SOCE in a colon adenocarcinoma cell line

Mechanisms involved: OA-apoptosis

Menndez JA et al.55
Puertollano MA et al.61
Azevedo-Martins AK et al.62
Puertollano MA et al.,61 Cury-Boaventura MF et al.65

OA induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells

ROS was substantially increased after YAC-1 tumor cell incubation with OA
OA reduced catalase activity in human leukaemia cell lines
OA increases caspase 3 activity in different carcinoma cell lines

Zeng L et al.20
Liu J et al.,21 Hughes-Fulford M et al.,22 Martne J et al.,23 Grao L et al.24
Hardy S et al.,25 Soto-Guzmn A et al.,26 Welsch CW,27 Ip C,28
Zusman I et al.29
Martnez J et al.30

OA in human adenocarcinoma cells, with no apparent

toxic effects. They additionally showed that exposure
to minerval inhibits the growth of cancers in both
animal models and cultured cells.30
Several mechanisms have been proposed for the
antiproliferative effect of unsaturated fatty acids.
Among them, a reduction in the synthesis of
eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid could be
considered to be involved in the growth inhibitory
effect.31-33 Specific changes in gene expression patterns
have been also suggested.34,35 In this sense, OA can
suppress the over-expression of HER2 (erbB-2), a
well-characterized oncogene which plays a key role in
the etiology, invasive progression and metastasis in
several human cancers.36-39 Finally, different studies
have reported that unsaturated fatty acids can modulate
the activity of the components of intracellular
signaling.40-42 It is well established that Ca2+ is among
the major intracellular factors involved in the signaling
transduction pathways evoking cell growth and proliferation, and other key processes such as gene expression.43,44 Within Ca2+ mechanisms contributing to the
increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i),
particular attention has been paid to the role of Ca2+
entry through store-operated channels (SOC).45 Thus,
store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) has been involved in
cell signaling occurring in non-excitable cells to evoke
different cell processes including gene regulation and
cell growth.46 Entry in cell cycle is preceded by SOC
activation.47 In addition, the growth factor stimulation

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of cell proliferation is accompanied by increased

activity and/or expression of TRP channels that are
related to SOCE.48 Moreover, SOCE inhibition by
different means abolishes tumor cell proliferation.49,50 It
has been recently observed that the addition of PUFA
to cells cultured in vitro, modifies the extent of SOCE.51
Thus, OA can inhibit SOCE in Ehrlich tumor cells,
possibly because they intercalate into the plasma
membrane and directly affect the activity of the channels involved.51 In addition, it has been recently
reported a SOCE-inhibitory effect induced by oleic
acid in a colon adenocarcinoma cell line.52
Oleic acid-apoptosis
Unsaturated fatty acids have been widely reported to
induce apoptosis in several cell lines.53-55 The mechanisms behind cell death are numerous and involve a
complex set of pathways.
In the apoptotic pathway, the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential is a common event that
leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and the production
of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In fact, increased
ROS production has been associated with the induction
of apoptotic cell death in different cells.56 According to
these findings, exposure of neonatal cardiomyocytes to
hydrogen peroxide or superoxide anion (O2-) induces
apoptosis.57 Whether apoptosis induced by fatty acids is
associated with an increased production of ROS

C. Carrillo et al.

10. ANTITUMOR:01. Interaccin 29/11/12 14:32 Pgina 1863

remains controversial and seems to depend on the type

of fatty acid. Some researchers studied the role of ROS
in palmitate-induced apoptosis in the neonatal rat
cardiomyocyte and reported no evidence of ROS
involvement.58 By contrast, docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA), a n-3 PUFA, is able to disrupt the mitochondrial membrane permeability and induce ROS production in tumor cells.59,60 Regarding the effect of the
MUFA, some researchers have reported that the
production of ROS was substantially increased after
YAC-1 tumor cell incubation with OA and other unsaturated fatty acids.61
Moreover, fatty acid may disturb the redox state of
the cells not only owing to an increase in ROS generation as previously shown, but also due to a reduction in
antioxidant enzyme activities. Thus, some researchers
demonstrated that OA reduced catalase activity in
human leukaemia cell lines.62
Apart from (and in line with) this increase in intracellular ROS production, unsaturated fatty acidsinduced apoptosis has been reported to be mediated by
an increase in caspase-3 activity in different carcinoma
cell lines.59,61,63-65
In addition, alterations in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis are commonly observed during apoptosis.66,67 It
has been demonstrated that the depletion of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores can directly induce apoptosis.68 Several reports have shown the ability of unsaturated fatty acids to induce Ca2+ release from the
intracellular stores59,69,70 and to induce ROS generation
with a subsequent cell death.59,71 This way, Aires et al.
propose a model for the mechanism of action of DHA
in which this fatty acid mobilizes Ca2+ from the intracellular pool and stimulates ROS production from the
mitochondria, followed by downstream signaling,
which will involve the activation of caspase-3, leading
to chromatin fragmentation and apoptosis.59 However,
evidence regarding the role of OA in these pathways is
lacking.
In summary, research has demonstrated the advantageous effects of olive oil and OA on health at both the
epidemiologic and cellular level. However, as far as we
are concerned, little is known about the mechanisms by
which OA could affect cell proliferation and cell death
of cancer cells. Thus, much research needs to be
conducted especially at the cellular level, to more fully
understand the pathways by which OA could reduce
cancer risk.

Acknowledgements
We thank Gonzalo Moreno for his support.

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